1051. Anas said that he was ten years old when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to Madina. He said, "My mothers decided that I would serve him and I served him for ten years. He died when I was twenty. I am the person who knows best about the business of the veil. The first instance that was revealed occurred when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, built a room for Zaynab bint Jahsh. He celebrated the wedding there, invited the people who came, ate and then left. A group remained with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They stayed for a long time and then the Prophet went out and I went out hoping that they would leave. He walked and I walked with him until he came to the threshold of 'A'isha's room. Then, thinking that they would have left, he returned and I returned with him. He went to Zaynab but they were still sitting there. He left again and I left with him until he once more reached the threshold of 'A'isha's room. When he thought that they would have gone, he went back again and I went back with him. This time they had indeed left. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then put up a curtain between me and him, and the veil was revealed."

482. Three times of nakedness

1052. Tha'laba ibn Abi Malik al-Qurazi reported that he rode to 'Abdullah ibn Suwayd, one of the Banu Haritha ibn al-Harith, to ask him about the three times of nakedness. 'Abdullah used to observe these times. Tha'laba said, "'Abdullah asked, 'What do you want?' I replied, 'I want to observe them.' He said, 'When I take off my garment at midday, none of my family who have reached puberty comes to me without my permission unless I call them. Nor do they do that when it is Fajr until people know that I have prayed, nor when I have prayed 'Isha' and removed my clothes so that I can sleep.'"

483. A man eating with his wife

1053. 'A'isha said, "I used to eat date and butter mixture with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. 'Umar visited and the Prophet invited him and he ate. 'Umar's hand touched my fingers and he said, 'Oh! If I were to be obeyed about you, no eye would ever see you!' Then the veil was revealed."

1054. Umm Habiba bint Qays (Khawla) was heard to say, "My hand and that of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, mixed together in the same vessel."

484. When someone enters a house which is uninhabited

1055. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said, "When someone enters a house which is not lived in, he should say, 'Peace be upon the righteous slaves of Allah.'"

1056. Ibn 'Abbas said, "The verse, 'Do not enter houses other than your own until you have asked permission and greeted their inhabitants' (24:27) has an exception made to it when Allah says, 'There is nothing wrong in your entering houses where no one lives where there is some service for you. Allah knows what you divulge and what you conceal.'"

485. "Those you own as slaves should ask your permission to enter" (24:56)

1057. Regarding the ayat, "Those you own as slaves should ask your permission to enter" (24:56), Ibn 'Umar said, "That applies to men rather than women."

486. The words of Allah, "Once your children have reached puberty" (24:57)

1058. Ibn 'Umar reported that when his children had reached puberty and he had withdrawn to his room, none of them entered where he was except with his permission.

487. Someone asking permission to come in to visit his mother

1059. 'Alqama said, "A man came to 'Abdullah and said, 'Should I ask permission to go in where my mother is?' He said, 'At all times. Do you want to see her (exposed)?'"

1060. Muslim ibn Nadhir said, "A man asked Hudhayfa, 'Should I ask permission to enter where my mother is?' He replied, 'If you were not to ask her permission, you would see what you dislike.'"

488. Asking permission to enter where one's father is

1061. Musa ibn Talha said, "I entered where my mother was with my father. He went in and I followed him. He turned and pushed me in the chest so that I fell on my bottom. Then he said, 'Will you enter without permission!'"

489. Asking permission to go in to one's father and one's child

1062. Jabir said, "A man should ask permission from his son and his mother, even if she is old, his brother, his sister and his father."

490. Asking a sister's permission to enter

1063. 'Ata' said, "I asked Ibn 'Abbas, 'Does one ask permission of one's sister?' He replied, 'Yes.' I repeated it and said, 'My two sisters live in my room and I provide for them and spend on them, so do I ask them for permission?' He said, 'Yes. Do you want to see them naked?' Then he recited, 'O you who believe! Those you own as slaves and those of you who have not as yet reached puberty should ask your permission to enter at three times: before the Dawn Prayer and when you have undressed at noon and after the Night Prayer - three times of nakedness for you.' (24:56) Ibn 'Abbas said, 'He did not command these individuals to ask permission other than at these three times of nakedness.' Then he went on to say, 'The verse in Surat an-Nur:57 is: 'Once your children have reached puberty, they should ask your permission to enter as those before them also asked permission.'"

1064. 'Abdullah said, "A man asks permission of his father, his mother, his brother and his sister."

492. Asking permission three times

1065. 'Ubayd ibn 'Umayr reported that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari asked permission of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, but he did not grant him permission. It seemed that he was busy. Abu Musa came back and 'Umar had finished. He said, "Didn't I hear the voice of 'Abdullah ibn Qays? Give him permission to enter." He was told, "He has gone away," so he sent after him. Abu Musa said, "We were commanded to behave like that (i.e. to go away after having asked permission to enter three times)." 'Umar said, "Bring me a clear proof of it." He then went to the gathering of the Ansar and questioned them. They said, "Only the youngest of us will attest to that ­ Abu Sa'id al-Khudri." He went with Abu Sa'id. 'Umar said, "Is something of what the may Allah bless him and grant him peace,, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded hidden from me? Doing business in the markets distracted me," i.e. going out to trade.

493. Asking permission to enter is not a greeting

1066. Regarding the person who asks for permission to enter before he gives the greeting, Abu Hurayra said, "He is not given permission until he has first given the greeting."

1067. Abu Hurayra said, "When someone comes in and does not say, 'Peace be upon you,' then say, 'No,' until he brings the key which is the greeting (salam)."

494. When someone looks without permission, his eye is gouged out

1068. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If a man looks into your house and you take some pebbles and gouge out his eye, there is no fault in you."

1069. Anas said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was standing in prayer and a man looked into his room. He took an arrow from his quiver and aimed it at his eyes."

495. Asking permission without looking

1070. Sahl ibn Sa'd told him that a man looked from a room through the door of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had a comb with which he was scratching his hair. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saw him, he said, "If I had known that you were looking at me, I would have stabbed you in the eye with this!"

1071. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The ear is put in the place of the eye."

1072. Anas said, "A man looked through a gap into the room of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Messenger of Allah aimed an arrow-head at him, and the man withdrew his head."

496. When a man greets another man in his room

1073. 'Ubayd ibn Hunayn related to him that Abu Musa said, "I asked permission three times to come in to 'Umar, but he did not give me permission and so I went away. He said, ''Abdullah, is it hard on you to be kept waiting at your door.' I said, 'I asked permission from you three times and you did not give me permission, so I went away (and we were commanded to do that).' 'Umar said, 'From whom did you hear this?' I replied, 'I heard it from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' 'Umar said, 'Did you hear something from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which I did not hear? If you do not bring me a clear proof, I will make an example of you!' Therefore I went to a group of Ansar who were sitting in the mosque. I asked them and they said, 'Does anyone doubt this?' I told them what 'Umar had said. They said, 'Only the youngest of us will go with you.' So Abu Sa'id al-Khudri ­ or Abu Mas'ud ­ went with me to 'Umar. He said, 'We went out with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he was going to Sa'd ibn 'Ubada. He gave the greeting, but Sa'd did not give permission. Then he greeted him a second time and then a third time, but Sa'd did not give him permission. So the Prophet said, 'We have done what we must.' Then he went back and Sa'd caught up to him and said, 'Messenger of Allah! By the One who sent you with the Truth, every time you greeted me, I heard and answered you, but I wanted to have a lot of greeting (peace) from you for me and the people of my house.'" Abu Musa said, "By Allah, I am a guardian of the hadith of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace." 'Umar said, "Yes, but I wanted to make sure."

497. A man's invitation is his permission

1074. 'Abdullah said, "When a man is given an invitation, that is his permission to enter."

1075. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of you gives someone an invitation and the person you invited comes with your messenger, that is his permission to enter."

1076. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A man's messenger to another man is his permission to enter."

1077. Abu'l-'Alaniyya said, "I came to Abu Sa'id al-Khudri and greeted him, but he did not give me permission. Then I greeted him again and he did not give me permission. Then I greeted him a third time, raising my voice and said, 'Peace be upon you, people of the house,' and he did not give me permission. Then I went off to one side and sat down. A slave boy came out to me and said, 'Enter.' I entered and Abu Sa'id said to me, 'If you had said it any more times, I would not have given you permission.' I asked him about vessels (i.e. those used for wine) and other things. He said, 'Haram.' I asked him about an old milk-skin made into a bucket for fermentation purposes. 'Haram,' he said."

498. How does someone stand at a door

1078. 'Abdullah ibn Busr, the Companion of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said that when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to a door when he wanted to ask permission to enter, he did not face it directly. He stood to the right or the left. If he was given permission, he went in. Otherwise he went away.

499. When someone asks permission to enter, he says, "When shall I leave? Where shall I sit?"

1079. Mu'awiya ibn Hudayj said, "I came to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, and asked him for permission to enter. They told me, 'Stay where you are until he comes to you.' I sat down near his door." He continued, "'Umar came out to me, called for water and did wudu'. Then he wiped over his leather socks. I said, 'O Amir al'-Mu'minin, is this on account of urine?' He replied, 'On account of urine or other things.'"

500. Knocking on a door

1080. Anas ibn Malik reported that people knocked on the door of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, using their fingernails.

501. When someone enters without having asked permission

1081. Kalda ibn Hanbal reported that Safwan ibn Umayya sent him to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, during the Conquest of Makka with some milk, gazelle, and cucumber. (Abu 'Asim said that the meant vegetables.) The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was at the top of the valley and I did not give the greeting nor ask for permission. He said, "Go back and say, 'Peace be upon you. May I enter?' That was after Safwan had become Muslim."

1082. Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If someone looks inside, he should not be given permission to enter."

1084. Rib'i ibn Hirash reported that a man of the Banu 'Amir came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, "Can I come in?" The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told his slavegirl, "Go out and say to him,, 'Say, "Peace be upon you. Can I come in?" He is not good at asking permission to enter." The man said, "I heard that before the slavegirl came out to me and I said, 'Peace be upon you. Can I come in?' Then the Prophet said, 'And on you. Enter!'"

The man continued, "I went in and asked, 'Why have you been sent?' The Prophet replied, 'I have only brought good. I have come to you in order that you worship Allah alone with no partner and stop worshipping al-Lat and al-'Uzza and pray five prayers in the night and day, fast a month in the year and go on hajj to this House. You are to take from the property of your rich men and give it toy our poor.' I said to him, 'Is there anything you do not know?' The Prophet replied, 'Allah knows the good. There is knowledge which no one except Allah knows. There are five things which only Allah knows: "Truly Allah has knowledge of the Hour and sends down abundant rain and knows what is in the wombs. And no self knows what it will earn tomorrow and no self knows in what land it will die." (31:34)'"

503. How to ask permission to enter

1085. Ibn 'Abbas said, "'Umar asked permission to visit the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'Peace be upon the Messenger of Allah! Peace be upon you! Can I come in?'"

504. The one who says, "Who is it?" and is answered, "Me"

1086. Jabir said, "I came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, about a debt my father owed. I knocked at the door and he asked. 'Who is it?' 'Me,' I replied. He said, 'Me? Me?' as if he disliked that."

1087. Burayda said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out to the mosque while Musa was reciting. He said, 'Who is it?' I said 'I am Burayda, may I be your ransom!' The Prophet said, 'This man has been given one of the flutes of the family of Da'ud.'"

505. When someone asks permission, he is told, "Enter with peace"

1088. 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Ju'dan said, "I was with 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar and he asked permission from the people of the house to enter. He was told, 'Enter with peace,' and he refused to enter them.'"

506. Looking into houses

1089. Abu Hurayra said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When the eye enters, permission to enter should not be given."

1090. Muslim ibn Nadhir said, "A man asked permission to enter from Hudhayfa. He looked in and said, 'May I come in?' Hudhayfa replied, 'As for you eye, it has already entered. As for your bottom, it has not entered.'"

1090 (sic). A man said, "Shall I ask permission from my mother?" He replied, "If you do not ask her permission, you will see something you might dislike."

1091. Anas ibn Malik reported that a bedouin came to the house of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and put his eye to the crack of the door. Therefore the Prophet took an arrow or a sharp stick and aimed it at the bedouin as to gouge out his eye. The man left and the Prophet said, "If you had stayed, I would have gouged out your eye."

1092. 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said, "Anyone who fills his eye with the contents of a house before he has been given permission has gone astray."

1093. Thawban, the mawla of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, related that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is not lawful for a Muslim man to look inside a house until he has been given permission. If he does so, he has entered. He should not act as the imam of a people and then single himself out for supplication to the exclusion of others. He should not pray while he needs to urinate until he has relieved himself."

507. The excellence of someone who enters his house saying "Peace"

1094. Abu Umama reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, Allah is responsible for three: if they live, they will have enough, and if they die, they will enter the Garden. Allah Almighty is responsible for whoever enters his house , saying 'Peace'. Allah is responsible for whoever goes out to the mosque. Allah is responsible for whoever goes out in the Way of Allah."

1095. Jabir said, "When you come in to your family, greet them with a greeting from Allah which is blessed and good." He added, "I only think that it is what is meant by His words, 'When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it.' (4:86)"

508. When someone does not mention Allah when he enters his house, shaytan spends the night in it

1096. Jabir reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When a man enters his house, he should Allah mention Allah Almighty, both when he enters and he eats. If he does so, Shaytan says (i.e. to the shayatin), 'You cannot spend the night or eat.' When he enters and does not mention Allah when he enters, Shaytan says, 'You have got your lodgings for the night and your supper.'"

509. What one is not given permission for

1097. A'yan al-Khwarizmi said, "We came to Anas ibn Malik while he was sitting his foyer with anyone else with him. My companion greeted him and said, 'May I come in?' Anas said, 'Come in. This is a place where no one asks for permission.' He had food brought to us and we ate. Then a cup of sweet nabidh was brought and we drank and were full."

510. Asking permission in shops in the market

1098. Mujahid said, "Ibn 'Umar did not ask permission to enter shops in the market."

1100. Abu Malik, the mawla of Umm Miskin, the daughter of ('Umar) ibn 'Asim ibn 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, said, "My mistress sent me to Abu Hurayra and he came with me. When he was at the door, he asked in Persian, 'Can we come in?' 'Come in!' she replied.' Then she said, 'Abu Hurayra, if visitors come to me after 'Isha', should I enter into conversation with them?' He replied, 'Converse as long as you have not done the witr prayer. If you have down the witr, there is no conversation after it.'"

The People of the Book

512. When a dhimmi writes and gives the greeting, he is answered

1101. Abu 'Uthman an-Nahdi said, "Abu Musa wrote to a Persian grandee and greeted him in his letter. He was asked, 'Do you greet him when he is an unbeliever?' He replied, 'He wrote to me and greeted me, so I have answered him.'"

1102. Abu Basra l-Ghifari reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I will ride to the Jews tomorrow. Do not give them the greeting first. If they greet you, then say, 'and on you.'"

1103. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not give the People of the Book the greeting first. Force them to the narrowest part of the road."

513. A person greeting a dhimmi with a gesture

1104. 'Alqama said, "'Abdullah used to greet the Persian grandees with a gesture."

1105. Anas said, "A Jew passed by the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, 'Peace be upon you.' His Companions returned the salam.' The Prophet said, 'The Jew said, 'Poison (sam) be upon you.' He caught hold of the Jew who admitted it.' The Prophet said, 'Answer him with what he said.'"

515. How to answer dhimmis

1106. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of the Jews greets you and says, 'Poison be upon you (as-samu 'alaykum),' say, 'And on you.'"

1107. Ibn 'Abbas said, "Return the greeting to whomever it is, Jew, Christian, or Magian. That is because Allah says, 'When you are greeted with a greeting, greet with one better than it or return it.' (4:86)"

516. The greeting to the gathering which includes both Muslims and idolaters

1108. Usama ibn Zayd related that one day the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was riding on a donkey on a straw saddle covered by a blanket from Fadak. Usama ibn Zayd was riding behind him. He was on his way to visit Sa'd ibn 'Ubada. He passed by a meeting which included 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul ­ before the enemy of Allah had become Muslim. The gathering contained a mixture of Muslims, associaters and idolaters. He greeted them.

517. How does one write to the People of the Book?

1109. 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas related that Abu Sufyan ibn Harb sent him to Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, and he called for the letter of the Messenger of Allah which Dihya had brought to the governor of Busra, who in turn passed it on to Heraclius. He read it out, saying, 'In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be upon the one who follows guidance. I call you to Islam. If you become Muslim, you will be safe and Allah will double your reward. If you turn away, then you incur the wrong action of your subjects. "O People of the Book! Come to a proposition which is the same for us and you É (to His words) Bear witness that we are Muslims." (3:54)'"

518. When the People of the Book say, "Poison be upon you"

1110. Jabir said, "Some of the Jews greeted the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by saying, 'Poison be upon you (as-Samu 'alaykum)' and the Prophet replied, 'And on you.' 'A'isha, may Allah be pleased with her, said angrily, 'Didn't you hear what they said?' The Prophet replied, 'Yes, and I answered them. What I said about them will be accepted and what they said about me will not be accepted.'"

519. The People of the Book are forced to the narrowest part of the road

1111. See 1103.

520. How to make supplication for a dhimmi

1112. 'Uqba ibn 'Amir al-Juhani passed by a man who looked like a Muslim who greeted him. 'Uqba answered him, saying, "And on you and the mercy of Allah and his blessings." His slave said to him, "He is a Christian." 'Uqba got up and followed him until he caught up to him. He said, "The mercy of Allah and His blessings are for the believers, but may Allah make your life long and give you much wealth and many children."

1113. Ibn 'Abbas said, "If Pharaoh had said to me, 'May Allah bless you,' I would have said, 'And you.' But Pharaoh is dead."

1114. Abu Musa said, "The Jews used to sneeze in the presence in the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, hoping that he would say to them, 'May Allah have mercy on you,' but he used to say, 'May Allah guide you and out your affairs in order.'"

521. When someone greets a Christian whom he does not recognise

1115. 'Abdu'r-Rahman said, "Ibn 'Umar passed by a Christian who greeted him and Ibn 'Umar returned the greeting He was told that the man was a Christian. When he learned that, he went back to him and said, 'Give me back my greeting.'"

522. When someone says, "So-and-so sends you his greetings"

1116. 'A'isha reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to her, "Jibril sends you the greeting." She replied, "And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah."

Letters and greetings

523. Answering a letter

1117. Ibn 'Abbas said, "I think that answering a letter is a duty, just like returning the greeting."

524. Letters to women and their reply

1118. 'A'isha bint Talha said, "I spoke to 'A'isha when I was under her protection. people used to visit her from all places. Shaykhs used visit me because of my place with her. Young men used to treat me as a sister and give me presents and write to me from their cities. I said to 'A'isha, 'Aunt, this is a letter from so-and-so and his gift.' 'A'isha told me, 'My girl, answer him and reward him. If you do not have anything to give, I will give you something.' She told her to give it to her."

525. How to write the beginning of a letter

1119. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar wrote to 'Abdu'l-Malik ibn Marwan in order to pledge him his allegiance. He wrote to him, "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful. To 'Abdu'l-Malik, the Amir al-Mu'minin, from 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar. Peace be upon you. I praise Allah to you. There is no god but Him. I offer you obedience according to the sunna of Allah and the sunna of His Messenger as much as I can."

526. "Following on from that"

1120. Zayd ibn Aslam said, "My father sent me to Ibn 'Umar and I saw him write, 'In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful. Following on from thatÉ'"

1121. Hisham ibn 'Urwa said, "I saw some of the letters of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. After the introduction he said, 'Following on from thatÉ'"

527. Beginning letters with "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful"

1122. It is reported that Zayd ibn Thabit wrote this letter: "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful. To the slave of Allah, Mu'awiya, the Amir al-Mu'minin, from Zayd ibn Thabit. Peace be upon you, Amir al-Mu'minin, and the mercy of Allah. I praise Allah to you. There is no god but Him. Following on from thatÉ'"

1123. Abu Mas'ud al-Jurayri related to him that a man asked al-Hasan about reading, "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful." He said, "That should be put at the beginning of letters."

528. The one who is put first in a letter

1124. Nafi' said, "Ibn 'Umar needed something from Mu'awiya and he wanted to write to him. People said, 'Begin with his name.' They kept on at him until he wrote, 'In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful, to Mu'awiya.'"

1125. Anas ibn Sirin said, "I wrote for Ibn 'Umar and he said, 'Write: "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful. Following on from that: To so-and-so."'"

1126. Anas ibn Sirin said, "A man wrote in the presence of Ibn 'Umar, 'In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful, to so-and-so.' Ibn 'Umar forbade him and said, 'Say: 'In the Name of Allah. It is for Him.'"

[This had to do with using "ilâ" instead of "li".]

1127. See 1122.

1128. Abu Hurayra said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'A man from the tribe of Israel ­ and he mentioned the entire hadith ­ had his friend write to him, 'From so-and-so to so-and-so.'"

529. How are you this morning?

1129. Mahmud ibn Labid said, "When Sa'd's eye was gravely wounded in the Battle of the Ditch, they moved him to the house of a woman called Rufayda who used to treat the wounded. When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by him, he would inquire, 'How are you this evening?' and in the morning, 'How are you this morning?' and he would tell him."

1130. It is related from Ka'b ibn Malik, who was one of the three to whom Allah turned that Ibn 'Abbas informed him that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib emerged from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, in his illness from which he died and the people said, "O Abu'l-Hasan! How is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, this morning?" He said, "Praise be to Allah, he is well this morning." 'Abbas ibn 'Abdu'l-Muttalib took him by the hand and said to him, "By Allah, in three days time you will be a subject. By Allah, I think that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, will die of this illness. I recognise death in the faces of the Banu Abdu'l-Muttalib when they are dying. Let us go to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and ask him who will have this authority. If it is for us, then we will know that, and if it is for other than us, we will know it and he can advise him to look after us." 'Ali replied, "By Allah, if we ask him for it and he refuses us, then the people would never give it to us afterwards. By Allah, I will not ask it from the Messenger of Allah."

530. Someone who writes at the end of a letter, "Peace be upon and the mercy of Allah" and writes so-and-so, son of so-and-so on the 20th of the month

1131. Ibn Abi-Zinad related from his father that he tool this letter from Kharija ibn Zayd and from the great members of the family of Zayd: "In the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, Most Merciful. To the slave of Prophet, Mu'awiya, the Amir al-Mu'minin, from Zayd ibn Thabit. Peace be upon you, Amir al-Mu'minin, and the mercy of Allah. I praise Allah to you. There is no god but Him. Following on from that, you asked me about the inheritance of the grandfather and brothers (and he mentioned the letter). We ask Allah for guidance, preservation and firmness in all our affairs. We seek refuge with Allah from being misguided or ignorant or taking on what we have no knowledge of. Peace be upon you, Amir al-Mu'minin, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings and His forgiveness. Wuhayb has written it on Thursday, the 20th Ramadan, 42 (AH)."

531. How are you?

1132. Anas ibn Malik reported that he heard 'Umar ibn al-Khattab being greeted by a man and he returned the greeting. Then 'Umar asked the man, "How are you?" The man replied, "I praise Allah to you." 'Umar said, :This is what I wanted to hear from you."

532. How to answer when someone asks you, "How are you this morning?"

1133. Jabir ibn 'Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, "How are you this morning?" He replied, "Well. Away from people who do not attend funerals or visit sick people."

1134. Muhajir (who is as-Sa'igh) said, "I was sitting with one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called Dakhm, from al-Hadramaym. When someone asked him, 'How are you this morning?' Dakhm replied, 'We do not associate anything with Allah.'"

1135. Sayf ibn Wahb reported that Abu't-Tufayl asked him, "How old are you?" "Thirty-three years old," he replied. He said, "Shall I tell you a hadith which I heard from Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman? A man from Muharib ibn Khasafa called 'Amr ibn Sulay', a Companion, was my age on that day and I was your age. Hudhayfa came to us in the mosque and sat at the edge of the people. 'Amr went over until he was standing in front of him and asked, 'How are you this morning (or evening), slave of Allah?' Hudhayfa said, 'I praise Allah.' 'Amr said, 'What are these hadiths which have come to us from you?' Hudhayfa said, 'What have you heard from me, 'Amr?' He said, 'Hadiths which I have not heard from anywhere else.' Hudhayfa said, 'By Allah, if I were to relate to you all that I have heard, you would be here with me until the middle of the night. 'Amr ibn Sulay', if you see Qays taking control of Syria, then beware and again beware. By Allah, Qays will not leave a believing slave of Allah without causing him to be in a state of fear or killing him. By Allah, a time will come to you in which the flood will not be stopped.' He said, 'Then what will help you against your people, may Allah have mercy on you?' He said, 'That is my business.' Then he sat down."

Gatherings

533. The best gathering is the most expansive one

1136. 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn Abi 'Amra al-Ansari related to him, "Abu Sa'id al-Khudri was told of a funeral." He continued, "It seemed that he was hanging back until people had taken their seats. Then he came. When the people saw him, they quickly made room for him. One of them stood up for him to let him sit in his place. He said, 'Don't. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "The best gathering is the most expansive one." 'Then he went to the side and sat in an expansive gathering."

534. Facing qibla

1137. Munqidh said, "In most of the gatherings of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar, he would face qibla. Once Yazid ibn 'Abdullah ibn Fusayt recited Sajda after sunrise. He prostrated and the people there prostrated with the exception of 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar. When the sun rose, 'Abdullah uncurled his legs and then prostrated. He said, 'Did you see the prostration of your companions? They prostrated at a time when the prayer should not be done."

536. When someone stands up and then returns to his place

1138. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When one of you gets up from his place and then returns to it, he is more entitled to."

537. Sitting in the road

1139. Anas said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to us when we were children. He greeted us and sent me to get something he needed. He sat in the road waiting for me until I came back to him."

Anas continued, "I kept Umm Sulaym [his mother] waiting and she asked, 'What kept you?' I replied, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent me for something he needed.' 'What was it?' she asked. 'It is a secret,' I replied. She said, 'Keep the secret of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.'"

538. Making room in a gathering

1140. Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "None of you should make a man rise from his seat and then sit in it. Rather make room and spread out."

539. A man sitting at the edge of a gathering

1141. Jabir ibn Samura said, "When we came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we would sit at the edge of the group."

540. Do not separate two people

1142. 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "It is not lawful for a man to separate two people except with the permission of both of them."

540. Stepping over people to move towards the leader of a gathering

1143. Ibn 'Abbas said, "When 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was attacked, I was one of those who carried him into his house. He said to me, 'Nephew, go see who wounded me and who was wounded with me.' I went and returned to tell him, but the room was full at that time. I did not want to step over people's necks because I was young, and so I sat down. 'Umar's rule when he sent someone for a need was that he commanded him not to tell about it. 'Umar had a cover over him. Ka'b came and said, 'By Allah, if the Amir al-Mu'minin makes supplication, Allah will let him remain alive and restore him to this community until he does such-and-such and such-and-such for them' until Ka'b mentioned the hypocrites. He actually named them and used their kunyas. I said, 'Shall I convey to him what you have said?' Ka'b said, 'I only said it because I intended that it be done.' I plucked up courage and stood up, I stepped over people's necks until I sat by 'Umar's head. I said, 'You sent me to find out such-and-such. Thirteen people were wounded with you. Kulayb ibn al-Jazzar was wounded while he was doing wudu' from the cistern. Ka'b swore such-and-such by Allah.' He said, 'Summon Ka'b.' He was summoned and 'Umar asked, 'What did you say?' He replied, 'I said such-and-such.' He said, 'No, by Prophet, I will not make supplication. 'Umar will be wretched if Allah does not forgive him.'"

1144. Ash-Sha'bi said, "A man came to 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr when there were some people sitting with him. He stepped over them in order to reach him. They stopped him and 'Abdullah said, 'Leave the man.' He approached until he sat with him and then said, 'Tell me something which you heard from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' 'Abdullah said, 'I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe. An emigrant (muhajir) is someone who abandons what Allah has forbidden."'"

541. The noblest of people for a person is his companion

1145. Ibn 'Abbas said, "The most precious of people in my opinion is my sitting companion."

1146. Ibn 'Abbas said, "The most precious of people in my opinion is my sitting companion. This is so much the case that he can step over the shoulders of people until he sits with me."

542. Can a man put his foot in front of someone he is sitting with

1147. Kathir ibn Murra related, "I entered the mosque on Friday and found 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i sitting in a circle of men. He stretched out his feet in front of him. When he saw me, he pulled his feet back in. Then he said to me, 'Do you know why I put my foot out? So that a righteous man might come and sit down.'"

543. When someone in a group of people spits

1148. Al-Harith ibn 'Amr as-Sahmi related, "I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he was at Mina or at 'Arafa. People crowded around him and some Bedouins arrived. When they saw his face, they said, 'This is a blessed face.' I said, 'Messenger of Allah, pray for forgiveness for me.' He said, 'O Allah, forgive us!' I said, 'Ask forgiveness for me.' He said, 'O Allah, forgive us!' I turned and said, Ask forgiveness for me.' He said, 'O Allah, forgive us!' He spat on his hand and wiped it on his sandal. He did not want it to get on anyone around him."

544. Gatherings on roads

1149. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade gatherings in the road. They said, "Messenger of Allah, it is hard for us to sit in our houses." He said, "If you must sit there, then fulfil the rights of the gathering." They asked, 'What is their right, Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "Guiding anyone who asks for directions, returning the greeting, lowering the eye, commanding the correct and forbidding the bad."

1150. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Beware of sitting in the road." They said, "Messenger of Allah, we must meet where we can sit to talk." The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If you must do it, then give the road its due. "What is the due of the road, Messenger of Allah," they asked. He replied, "Lowering the eye, avoiding doing anything harmful, commanding the correct and forbidding the bad."

545. Someone who sits dangling his feet in a well with his legs uncovered

1151. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out one day to one of the walled gardens of Madina, and I went out after him. When he entered the garden, I sat at the gate and said, I will be the doorkeeper of the Messenger of Allah today even if he has not commanded me to do it.' The Prophet went and answered a call of nature and then sat on the edge of the well. He uncovered his legs and dangled them in the well. Abu Bakr came and asked for permission to enter.' I said, 'Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.' He waited and I went to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, 'Messenger of Allah, it is Abu Bakr asking permission to come in.' He said, 'Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden.' He entered and sat at the right side of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. uncovered his legs and dangled them in the water. Then 'Umar came. I said, 'Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden.' 'Umar went in and sat at the left side of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, uncovered his legs and dangled his feet in the well. The rim of the well was then full and there was no place left to sit. Then 'Uthman came. I said, 'Stay where you are until I ask permission for you.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Let him in and give him the good news of the Garden as well as an affliction which will befall him.' 'Uthman came in and could not find a place with them. He moved around until he was facing them on the other side of the well, uncovered his legs and dangled them in the well. I began to wish that a brother of mine would come and I asked Allah to make him come, but he did not come before they had got up."

Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab said, "I interpreted it as their graves. They (the Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar) were buried together here, but 'Uthman was alone."

1152. Abu Hurayra said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out in the heat of the day. He did not speak to me nor did I speak to him until he came to the market of Qaynuqa'. He sat in the courtyard of Fatima's house and asked, 'Is the little one here? Is the little one here?' Fatima held her son back for a short time. I think that she was putting a necklace on him or washing him. Then he came running and he hugged him and kissed him. He said, 'O Allah, love him and love those who love him.'"

546. When a man rises to give place for someone in a gathering, that person should not sit in it

1153. Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade anyone forcing a man to rise from his seat so that someone else could sit in his place."

Behaviour with people

547. The Trust

1154. Anas said, "I was serving the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, one day. When I thought I had finished serving him, I said, 'The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, is having a midday nap.' So I left him and there were some children playing. I stood looking at them and their game. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came out, and came up to them and greeted them. Then he called me and sent me to get something he needed. He remained in the shade until I came back to him. I was late for my mother and she and he asked, 'What kept you?' I replied, The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sent me for something he needed.' 'What was it?' she asked. I replied, 'It is a secret of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' She said, Keep the secret of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.' I did not tell anyone that secret. If I had told it, I would have told it to her.'"

548. When he turned, he turned completely

1155. Abu Hurayra described the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with the words, "He was of medium height, but nearer to being tall. He was very white with a black beard and good front teeth. He had long eye-lashes. He was very broad between the shoulders and had full cheeks. He walked on his entire foot, but they did not have a hollow. He turned completely towards people or turned his back completely. I have not seen anyone like him before or since.'"

549. When a man is sent to another man for some reason and he does not tell him what it is

1156. Aslam said, "'Umar said to me, 'If I send you to a man, do not tell him why I sent you to him. If you do, Shaytan will prepare a lie for him in that.'"

550. Should you say, "Where have you come from?"

1157. Mujahid said, "It is disliked for a man to look sharply at his brother or to follow him with his glance when he leaves or to ask him, 'Where have you come from and where are you going?'"

1158. Malik ibn Zubayd said, "We passed by Abu Dharr at ar-Rabadha. He said, 'Where have you come from?' We said, 'Makka ­ or from the Ancient House.' He said, 'Is this what you have done?' We said, 'Yes.' He said, 'And was there commerce or selling with it?' 'No,' he replied. He said, 'Then resume your actions anew.'"

551. Someone who listens to people's conversation when they dislike for him to do that

1159. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever fashions an image will have to breathe life into it and he will be punished since he will not be able to breathe life into it. Anyone who claims to have seen a vision in a dream will have to string two beads of barely together and he will be punished because he will not be able to string them together. Anyone who listens to people's conversation when they move away from him will have molten lead poured into his ears."

552. Sitting on an elevated seat

1160. Al-'Iryan ibn al-Haytham said, "My father came to Mu'awiya when I was a body. When he reached him, he said, 'Welcome, welcome.' A man was sitting with him on the elevated seat. He said, 'Amir al-Mu'minin, who is this you are welcoming?' He said, 'This is the master of the people of the east. This is al-Haytham ibn al-Aswad.' I asked, 'Who is this?' They replied, 'This is 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As.' I said to him, 'Abu so-and-so. From where will the Dajjal emerge?' He said, 'I have not seen the people of a town who asked about what is far nor left what is near. You are from the people of a town.' Then he said, 'He will emerge from the land of Iraq with the trees and palm trees.'"

Abu Jamra said, "I used to sit with Ibn 'Abbas. He used to make me sit on his seat. He told him, 'Stay with me so that I can allot you a portion of my property.' I stayed with him for two months."

1162. Abu Khulda reported that he heard Anas ibn Malik when he was with al-Hakam, the amir of Basra, on a seat. He said, "When the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was hot, he delayed the prayer until a cooler time of the day. When it was cold, he made the prayer early."

1163. Anas ibn Malik said, "I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was on a seat with a bad woven on it. He had a pillow under his head made of skin stuffed with fibre. There was a cloth between his skin and the seat. 'Umar visited him and wept. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'What made you weep, 'Umar?' He said, 'By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I am only weeping since I know that you are more noble with Allah than Chosroes and Caesar. They both live in what they live of this world while you, Messenger of Allah, are in the place I see.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Are you not content, 'Umar, that they have this world while we have the Next?' I replied, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'That is the way of it.'"

1164. Abu Rifa'a al-'Adawi said, "I came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was speaking [i.e. on Jumu'a]. I said, 'Messenger, a stranger man has come to ask about his deen. He does not know what his deen is.' He turned to me and stopped speaking. He was brought a chair which I think had iron legs. (Hamid [one of the transmitters] said, 'I think that it was black wood like iron).'] He sat down on it and began to teach me what Allah had taught him. Then he finished his speech."

553. When someone sees people conversing secretly, he should not enter where they are

1166. Sa'id al-Maqburi said, "I passed by Ibn 'Umar who had a man with him with whom he was conversing. I went to them, and he struck me on the chest and said, 'When you find two men conversing, do not go up to them nor sit with them until they give you permission.' I said. 'May Allah make you prosper, Abu 'Abdu'r-Rahman. I hoped that I would hear something good from you.'"

1167. Ibn 'Abbas said, "Whoever listens to people's conversations when they do not want him to do so will have molten lead poured into his ears. Anyone who lies about a dram will be obliged to string a barley bead."

554. Two should not converse to the exclusion of a third

1168. 'Abdullah reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When there are three people, two should not converse together to the exclusion of the third."

555. When there are four people

1169. 'Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When there are three people, two should not converse together to the exclusion of the third for that would grieve him."

1170. Ibn 'Umar reported something similar from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He stated, "We said, 'If there are four?' He said, 'Then it will not harm him.'"

1171. 'Abdullah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Two should not converse to the exclusion of another until they are mixing with people since that would distress him."

1172. Ibn 'Umar said, "When there are four, there is no harm."

556. When someone sits without someone else, he should ask his permission to leave

1173. Abu Burda ibn Abi Musa said, "I sat with 'Abdullah ibn Sallam. He said, 'You have sat down with us, but now it is time for us to leave.' I said, 'If you like.' He got up and I followed him to the door."

557. Do not sit in the edge of the sunlight

1174. Qays related that his father arrived while the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was speaking. He stood in the sun and the Prophet told him to move to the shade.

Sitting and lying down

558. Sitting wrapped up in a garment

1175. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forbade two types of dress and two sales transactions. He forbade the sales transactions called mulamasa and munabadha.* The two types of dress are samma' ** and wrapping oneself up in garment while sitting down [with the legs drawn up] without anything covering the private parts."

[*Mulamasa is when a person touches something and that completes the sale without him examining it properly. Munabadha is when the seller throws the garment to someone and that completes the sale, without any inspection.

** Samma' is put the corner of the garment over one shoulder so that one side is uncovered with nothing covering it.]

559. Someone who has a cushion thrown to him

1176. 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reported his fasting was mentioned to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said, "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, came to visit me and I threw him a leather cushion stuffed with palm fibre, but he sat on the ground. The cushion remained between me and him. He asked me, 'Are three days every month enough for you?' I said, 'Messenger of Allah!' He said, 'Five?' I said, 'Messenger of Allah!' He said, Eleven?' I said, 'Messenger of Allah!' Then he said, 'Do not exceed the fast of Da'ud. Half of the time. Fast one day and break the fast the next.'"

['Abdullah ibn 'Amr was fasting every day.]

1177. 'Abdullah ibn Busr reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by 'Abdullah's father who threw the Prophet a rug on which he sat.

560. Squatting

1178. Qayla related, "I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sitting squatting. When I saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, humble in his form of sitting, I trembled from dear."

561. Sitting cross-legged

1179. Dhayyal ibn Hanzala said, "I visited the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and I saw him sitting cross-legged."

1180. Abu Ruzayq related that he saw 'Ali ibn 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas sitting cross-legged with one foot crossed over the other, the right on the left.

1181. 'Imran ibn Muslim said, "I saw Anas ibn Malik sitting like that ­ cross-legged, with one of his feet over the other one."

562. Wrapping oneself up

1182. Salim ibn Jabir al-Hujaymi said, "I came up to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, when he was wrapped up in a cloak whose edges were cover his feet. I said, 'Messenger of Allah, advise me.' He said, 'You must have fearful awareness of Allah. Do not scorn anything correct, even pouring water from your bucket into the bucket of someone else who asks you for water or talking to your brother with a happy face. Beware of dragging your waist-wrapper ­ it is part of arrogance and Allah does not like it. If a man blames you for something he knows about you, do not blame him for anything you know of him. Leave him to his own evil. You will have your reward. Do not abuse anything.'"

He said, "After that, I did not ever abuse anything, animal or man."

1183. It is related that Abu Hurayra said, "I never sae al-Hasan without my eyes overflowing with tears. That is because the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out one day and I found him in the mosque. He took my hand and I went along with him. He did not speak to me until we reached the market of Banu Qaynuqa'. He walked around it and looked. Then he left and I left with him until we reached the mosque. He sat down and wrapped himself in his garment. Then he said, 'Where is the little one? Call the little one to me.' Hasan came running and jumped into his lap. Then he put his hand in his beard. Then the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, opened his mouth and put his tongue in his mouth. Then he said, O Allah, I love him, so love him and the one who loves him!'"

563. Someone who kneels

1184. Anas ibn Malik related that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, prayed Dhuhr with them. When he said the taslim, he stood on the minbar and talked about the Final Hour. He mentioned terrible things about it. Then he said, 'Whoever wants to ask about something should ask about it. By Allah, whatever you ask me about, I will tell you as long as I am in this place.' People wept a great deal when they heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say that. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, repeated frequently, 'Ask.' 'Umar knelt on knees and said, 'We are content with Prophet as a Lord, with Islam as a deen and Muhammad as a Messenger.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was silent when 'Umar said that. Then the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Better! By the One in Whose hand the soul of Muhammad is, I have been shown the Garden and the Fire inside this garden while I was praying. I have not seen any good and evil such as I have seen this day.'"

564. Lying down

1185. 'Abdullah ibn Zayd ibn 'Asim al-Mazini said, "I saw him." Malik ibn Isma'il asked Ibn 'Uyayna (who had transmitted this to him), "The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?" He replied, "Yes, lying down with one of his feet over the other."

1186. Al-Miswar said, "I saw 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf lying down with one of his feet over the other."

565. Lying on one's face

1187. Ibn Tikhfa al-Ghifari reported that his father told him that he had been one of the People of the Bench. He told him, "I was sleeping in the mosque during the last part of the night, lying on my stomach. Someone came to me and moved me with his foot, saying, 'Get up. This is a manner of lying down which Allah hates.' I raised my head and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was standing by my head."

1188. Abu Umama reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a man in the mosque who was lying on his front. He kicked him with his foot and said, "Get up. It is the sleep of Jahannam."

566. Only give or take things with the right hand

1189. Ibn 'Umar said, "the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'None of you should eat with his left hand nor drink with his left hand. Shaytan eats and drinks with his left hand.'"

567. Where you should place your sandals when you sit down

1190. Ibn 'Abbas said, "Part of the sunna is that when a man sits down, he removes his sandals and puts them at his side."

568. Shaytan comes with a stick or something to chase a person out of bed

1191. Abu Umama said, "Shaytan comes to one of you in bed after his family has covered him and wished him good night. He throws sticks, stones or other things on him to make him angry with his family. When he feels that, he should not get angry with his family.' He said, 'It is part of the work of Shaytan.'"

569. Someone who spends the night on a roof without any covering

1192. 'Ali reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If anyone spends the night on the top of his house without protection, Allah has no responsibility for (protecting) him."

1193. 'Ali ibn 'Umara said, "Abu Ayyub al-Ansari came and went up on the flat roof. He came down and said, 'I almost spent the night with no protection.'"

1194. Zuhayr reported that one of the Companions of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "If anyone spends the night on a flat roof (without walls) and then falls off of it and dies, no one bears any responsibility for him. If anyone embarks on the sea when it is fierce (i.e. stormy) and is destroyed, no one bears any responsibility for him."

570. Should you let your feet dangle while you are sitting?

1195. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari related that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sitting in a walled garden on the rim of a well, dangling his feet into the well.

571. What to say when you go out for something

1196. When Ibn 'Umar left his house, he used to say, "O Allah, keep me and those with me safe!"

1197. Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say when he left his house, "In the Name of Allah. Reliance is on Allah. There is no power nor strength except by Allah."

572. Can a man put his feet out in front of his companions and can he lie down in their presence?

1198. Some of the delegation of 'Abdu'l-Qays heard him mention the following: "When it became clear to us that we should go to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, we travelled until we were in sight of our destination. We were met by a man on a young camel. He greeted is and we returned the greeting. Then he stopped and asked, 'Which tribe are you from?' We replied, 'We are the delegation of 'Abdu'l-Qays.' The man said, 'Welcome. I was looking for you. I came to give you good news. Yesterday the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, looked towards the east and told us, "Tomorrow from that direction (i.e. the east) there will come the best delegation of the Arabs." I spent the night preparing to leave. This morning I rode long and hard on my camel until dawn rose. Then I thought of returning, but I caught sight of the heads of your mounts.'

"Then he turned his mount with his reins and went back the way he had come until he reached the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, who was surrounded by his Companions from both the Muhajirun and the Ansar. The man said, 'May my father and mother be your ransom, I have come to give you the good news of the delegation of the 'Abdu'l-Qays!' The Prophet said, "'Umar, where did you see them?' He said, 'They are coming after me.' When he mentioned that, the Prophet said, 'Allah gives you good news of blessings.' The people prepared their places. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was sitting and took the end of his robe in his hand. He was lying on it with his feet stretched out.

"The delegation arrived and the Muhajirun and Ansar expressed joy at seeing them. When they (the delegation) saw the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, the Companions, they made their mounts prance for joy. They came forward swiftly. The people made room for them while the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, remained reclining. Al-Ashajj, who is Mundhir ibn 'A'idh ibn Mundhir ibn al-Harith ibn an-Nu'man ibn Ziyad ibn 'Asar, stayed back. He rounded up their mounts and made them kneel. He removed their loads and collected their baggage together. Then he took out a bag which belonged to him, removed his travel garments, and put on a robe. Then he came walking slowly. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, asked,, 'Who is your master and leader and the one in command?' They all pointed at al-Ashajj. He said, 'Is this man the son of your leaders?' They replied, 'His fathers were out masters in the time of the Jahiliyya and he led us to Islam.' When al-Ashajj arrived, he wanted to sit in a corner, but the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat upright and said, 'Here, Ashajj!*' It was the first day that al-Ashajj was called that. He had got some redness in his skin when he was weaned. It was like a moon on his face. The Prophet seated al-Ashajj at his side and was kind to him and acknowledged his higher position over them. People came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to ask him things and he answered them (and so on to the end of the hadith.)

"Then the Prophet said, 'Is there someone with you who will give you anything to eat?' 'Yes,' they said. They got up quickly, every man going to his load. They brought a heap of dates in their hands and placed them on a amt before him. Also in front of him there was a palm branch less than two arm-spans and more than one span long. He was sorting them. When he had divided them up, he pointed with it to a pile of those dates and said, 'You called these Ta'dud?' 'Yes,' they said. He said, 'And you call these ones Sarafan?' 'Yes,' they replied. He continued, 'And you call these ones Barni?' 'Yes,' they said. He said, 'They are the best of your dates and the one beneficial for you.'

"One of the shaykhs of area said, 'They have the greatest blessing, We had a lot which we used to feed our camels and donkeys. When we returned from the delegation, that increased our desire for them and we asked for them until their price increased. We saw the blessing in them."